Beef + Lamb NZ Estimates The Cyclones Cost Sheep And Beef Farmers Between $367 – $22m

Beef + Lamb NZ estimates the cyclones cost sheep and beef farmers between $367 – $22m B+LNZ has worked out the direct on-farm impact on sheep and beef farmers of Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle, and the Auckland Anniversary weather event. The aim is to tell the Government of what further support farmers may need to get back on their feet quickly. Chief executive Sam McIvor says these events will have a significant impact on farming businesses and communities for a number of years. More than 90% of the estimated impact is due to infrastructure damage – primarily to fences, tracks and accessways, dams, culverts, bridges, water reticulation, and slips and these all cause revenue losses through destocking and most of these costs are not insurable. The range identified is made up of $12-16 million for Northland, $18-21 million for Waikato-Bay of Plenty-Coromandel and $336-385 million for the East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua and the Wairarapa. B+LNZ estimates that 1,200 farms in these areas were affected and suffered damage.